Fifty Cents


FREESTONECOUNTYTIMES


City Administrator Suspended ‘I let my temper get the best of me’


A


n incident earlier this month between Fairfield City Administrator Jeff


Looney and the Public Works Department ended with a public apology to City


employees and suspension with half pay. “I let my temper get


the best of me,” explained Looney during a short phone conversation with


the incidence: --


The Go Eagles!


“Times” on Wednesday, February 22nd. “It was almost to the point of rage and I said some things I shouldn’t have because I was so upset with the way vehicle maintenance, or lack thereof, had been handled in the Public Works Department.” The following steps have been initiated in response to


Looney has been


officially reprimanded and suspended with half pay for two (2) weeks and will not return to work until Monday, March 5, 2012. --


Looney was to have


given a public apology to all City Workers and staff present at the February 16th


See “Suspension” On Page 7-A


$2.5 Million Allocated Develop Hwy 84


Infrastructure Bonds Approved by Teague


TWIRLING THEIR APPARATUS OF CHOICE, the Terrible Towels cheer the Fairfield Eagles on to victory during Friday’s basketball game. The Eagles advance to Regional Quarterfunals against Athens tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Corsicana High School. See page 1-B for coverage of the game. (Photo by Mary McDonald)


Luminant Cautious About Revisions EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule


T he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)


announced earlier this month that revisions had been made to the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) issued the middle of last year. Luminant issued the following statement regarding these changes: “The revisions EPA issued


earlier this month represent a step forward in the process of correcting flaws


Delayed:


Mailing of Voter Registration Cards C


itizens who have not received new voter


registration cards need not be concerned. The cards they currently have are valid in spite of the December 31, 2011 expiration date. The Freestone County Tax Assessor/Collector,


Lisa


Foree, has indicated that new cards are being delayed because redistricting maps


See “Voter Cards” On Page 7-A


FHS COACH (AND HISTORY TEACHER) JOHN BATCHEL SIGNS A $78,000 CONTRACT naming him the new Athletic Director / Head Coach for the Fairfield Eagles as FISD School Board President Teresa Vandiver looks on. Batchel was officially named during a school board meeting held Wednesday, February 23, 2012. See page 4-B for the complete story. (Photo by Mary McDonald)


in the original Cross-State Air Pollution Rule issued in July 2011. These revisions, however, still unreasonably require a 56 percent reduction in Luminant’s sulfur dioxide emissions relative to 2010 levels and in a very compressed


timeframe.


See “EPA Revisions” On Page 7-A


ETGRA Spring Open Sale March 3rd - 1:00 pm Ike Carden Arena


QUOTE


“Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called walking.”


INSIDE Four Sections


Classifieds............Page 3 - 4-D Dear Editor.............Page 8-A Oil & Gas................Page 3-A Obituaries..............Page 4-A Real Estate.............Page 3-D


D


CALENDAR FAIRFIELD


uring the February 14th regular Teague City


Council meeting, Aldermen approved a notice of intent to sell municipal bonds of $2.5 million for the Highway 84 Infrastructure project which will be used for water and waste water improvements. Alderman David Huffman, a property owner, abstained, with all other Aldermen approving. The vote on whether to actually sell the bonds will come in April. Teague’s Economic


Development Corporation will contribute $400,000 to the project. In other business, Aldermen approved the first of a six- step incentive program to


revitalize downtown using tax abatements, as recommended by City Administrator Vince DiMaggio. The area, deemed the “Economic Development Incentive Zone,” runs from 3rd Avenue to 6th Avenue


along both sides of Main Street. The abatement essentially impacts two taxes. 1) Owners


See “Infrastructure” On Page 7-A


Freestone Co. Commissioners Approve


Phones, Surplus for Sheriff’s Dept.


C


ommissioners entered into a contract with


Crown Correctional Jail Phone Services for the Sheriff’s Department during the February 21, 2012 regular Freestone County Commissioners Court. Crown will provide the


equipment free of charge and return 50% of the collect call fees back to the County. Additionally, all calls will be recorded, and all visits will be videotaped. These can be used by the District Attorney’s office when preparing cases. “The current equipment is


just not acceptable. I hope we can update with Crown. I have recommendations from two other District Attorneys’ Offices,” stated County Attorney Chris Martin prior to the Court making their decision. With approval from the


Court, the Freestone County Sheriff’s office joined the growing number of law enforcement agencies who


are participating in the Texas 1033 Surplus Property Program through the Federal Government. Wortham Police Department


has received several items including a Humvee vehicle. Chief Deputy Don Anderson stated that more surplus


See “Sheriff’s Dept.” On Page 7-A


Water: Regional Leaders Meet on Issues


R epresentatives from seven local municipalities


and several State agencies met in Fairfield last Friday to


See “Water” On Page 3-A


Living Free (Section C)


Candidate Forum (Page 4-B)


Vol. 11 No. 9 PUBLISHED IN THE FREESTONE COUNTY SEAT, FAIRFIELD, TEXAS Tuesday, February 28, 2012


generated at BeQRious.c


www.freestonecountytimes.com


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